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J. G. HOPE. I Signal Lantern. No. 241,015. Patented May 3,18%.

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UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

JAMES Gr. HOPE, OF KANSAS CITY, MISSOURI.

SIGNAL-LANTERN.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 241,015, dated May 3,1881.

Application filed March 12, 1881.

To all whom it may concern:

Be it known that I, JAMES G. HOPE, of Kansas City, in the county ofJackson, and in the State of Missouri, have invented certain new anduseful Improvements in Signal-Lanterns 5 and I do hereby declare thatthe following is afull, clear, and exact description thereof, referencebeing had to the accompanying drawings, and to the letters of referencemarked thereon, making a part of this specification.

This invention relates to certain improvements in signal-lanterns; andit has for its objects to provide a lantern by means of which anydesired color may be displayed at will for the purpose of signaling, asmore fully hereinafter specified. These objects I attain by themechanism illustrated in the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure 1represents a side elevation of my invention, showing the method ofdisplaying the signals, and Fig. 2 represents an inverted View of thetop of the lantern.

The letter A indicates the lamp-body, and B the lamp glass or globe.These may be of the ordinary or any approved construction.

The letter 0 indicates the guards, whichterminate at their upper ends inan annulus, D, to which the lantern-top E is hinged, as indicated by theletter F.

The letter G indicates the bail by which the lantern is carried.

In the under side of the top of the lantern are located a series of anydesired number of rollers, H, which are journaled in suitable bearin gsin the brackets I. The said rollers each carry a curtain of the colorfor the desired signal. When in a normal position the curtains are woundon their respective rollers so as to be out of sight. The rollers areheld in such normal position by means of the cords K, which (No model.)

wind around the journals of the respective rollers, and are secured tothe spiral springs L, located in a hollow annulus, M, at the lower edgeof the lantern-top.

The letter M indicates a series of hooks secured to the base of thelantern-frame, which are adapted to engage the eyes N at the free edgesof the curtains. v

The operation of my invention will be readily understood in connectionwith the above description, and is as follows: When it is desired todisplay any particular color the curtain of such coloris drawn down overthe outside of the globe or glass, and the eye N at the lower edgethereof is secured over the corresponding hook M, so that the light maybe transmitted through the curtain. When the signal is to be changed thecurtain is released, and the retractile force of the spring winds thecurtain up into its normal position.

In order to protect the curtains from the heat of the lantern a seriesof slots, P, may be made directly above them, so as to create a draft ofcold air over their surfaces.

Having thus fully described my invention, what I claim, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-- In combination with the top of thelantern, the rollers, mounted in suitable bearings therein, the spiralsprings and connecting-cords, the curtains and attached eyes, and thehooks at the base of the lantern-frame, all arranged to operatesubstantially in the manner specified.

In testimony thatI claim the foregoingI have hereunto set my hand this28th day of February, 1881.

J AS. G. HOPE.

Witnesses A. R. NIXON, FRANK ECKERT.

